Liver Tumors

A liver tumor is like a bump or lump that grows in the liver. It can be either not harmful (noncancerous) or harmful (cancerous).

Noncancerous liver tumors are pretty common and usually don’t cause any trouble. There are types like hepatocellular adenoma, which might be connected to certain medicines, and hemangioma, made of weird blood vessels.

Cancerous liver tumors can start in the liver itself (primary liver cancer) or spread there from somewhere else in the body (metastatic liver cancer). The most common primary liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver cancer is sadly pretty common all over the world. In the United States, thousands of people get diagnosed with it each year, and many people lose their lives because of it.

Liver cancer can show up in a bunch of ways, but some common signs are:

• Belly pain
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
• Throwing up
• Feeling a big lump in your upper belly
• Having a fever
• Your skin and eyes turning yellow (jaundice)
• Feeling itchy all over, all the time

Remember, these signs might look like other problems too, so it’s always good to chat with your doctor to figure out what’s going on.

Liver cancer usually happens when liver cells start growing out of control because of changes in their DNA. Some things that can cause these changes include infections like hepatitis, liver diseases, diabetes, fatty liver disease, toxins, and drinking too much alcohol.

Some things can up your risk of getting liver cancer, like:

• Having a long-term infection with hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV or HCV)
• Getting cirrhosis, a liver problem where scar tissue forms and can’t be fixed
• Having certain liver diseases that run in families, like hemochromatosis or Wilson’s disease
• Having diabetes, a condition where your blood sugar is high
• Having a fatty liver, where too much fat builds up in your liver
• Being around aflatoxins, which are bad chemicals made by certain molds that can get into food like grains and nuts if they’re stored wrong
• Drinking too much alcohol for a long time, which can really mess up your liver and make it more likely for cancer to happen

Your doctor might think you could have liver cancer if they notice signs or symptoms of it when they check you during a physical exam.

When to Seek Medical Assistance for Liver Tumors:

1. Persistent Abdominal Pain: If you experience persistent or severe abdominal pain, especially in the upper right quadrant where the liver is located, it’s important to seek medical attention. Abdominal pain can be a symptom of liver tumors or other liver-related conditions that require evaluation and treatment.

2. Jaundice: If you develop yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), it may indicate liver dysfunction or obstruction of the bile ducts, which can be caused by liver tumors. Jaundice should be promptly evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate management.

3. Unexplained Weight Loss: Rapid, unintentional weight loss can be a warning sign of various medical conditions, including liver tumors. If you experience significant weight loss without changes in diet or physical activity, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for evaluation and diagnosis.

4. Abdominal Swelling or Distension: Swelling or distension of the abdomen, often accompanied by a feeling of fullness or discomfort, may indicate fluid accumulation (ascites) or liver enlargement due to liver tumors. Prompt medical evaluation is necessary to determine the cause and appropriate management.

5. Changes in Appetite or Digestive Symptoms: Changes in appetite, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, or other digestive symptoms may occur with liver tumors or liver-related conditions. If you experience persistent or unexplained digestive symptoms, it’s important to seek medical assistance for further evaluation and management.

6. Fatigue and Weakness: Persistent fatigue, weakness, or loss of energy can be symptoms of liver tumors, especially if they are associated with other signs such as jaundice or abdominal pain. If you experience unexplained fatigue or weakness that interferes with daily activities, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider.

7. Bleeding or Easy Bruising: Liver tumors can affect blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding or easy bruising. If you experience unexplained bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bruising without injury, it’s important to seek medical assistance for evaluation and management.

8. Neurological Symptoms: Advanced liver tumors or liver-related conditions can cause neurological symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness, personality changes, or altered consciousness (hepatic encephalopathy). If you or a loved one experience any neurological symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for evaluation and treatment.

9. Worsening of Existing Symptoms: If you have been diagnosed with liver tumors or liver-related conditions and experience worsening of existing symptoms or new symptoms develop, it’s essential to contact your healthcare provider promptly. Changes in symptoms may indicate disease progression or complications that require medical intervention.

10. Concerns or Questions: If you have concerns or questions about liver tumors, symptoms you are experiencing, or the results of diagnostic tests, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider for guidance and assistance. Open communication with your healthcare team is important for ensuring timely evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate management of liver tumors.

Your doctor might recommend:

• Blood tests: They check your liver enzymes, proteins, and other stuff in your blood to see if your liver is healthy. They might also test for something called alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), which can be high if you have liver cancer.
• Ultrasound: This test takes pictures of the inside of your body to look for any weird spots in your liver.
• CT scan: It’s like a fancy X-ray that gives detailed images of your liver to see if there are any tumors and where they are.
• MRI: This test uses magnets and stuff to take super clear pictures of your insides.
• Angiogram: It helps doctors look at the blood vessels in your liver to see if there are any blockages.
• Biopsy: They take a tiny piece of your liver to check if there are any cancer cells.
• ERCP and PTC: These tests check your bile ducts, which are tubes that carry bile from your liver to your intestines. They’re done if needed to see if there are any problems.

These tests help doctors figure out if you have liver cancer and how serious it is.

Doctors have a bunch of ways to help with liver cancer:

• Surgery: They might remove part of your liver to get rid of the cancer.
• Liver transplant: If your liver is really sick, they might replace it with a healthy one.
• Special treatments for your liver: These can include things like blocking blood flow to the tumor (embolization) or killing cancer cells with heat (ablation).
• Other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy: These can help kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

If you have liver cancer, you’ll probably have a team of doctors to help you out including an interventional oncologist or interventional radiologist. They’re experts in using gentle treatments to fight cancer. They use special machines and tools like CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, and X-rays to find the cancer. Then they use things like heat, cold, or medicine to kill the cancer cells without hurting the rest of your body.